A Q&A with Santa, and Fleet Manager Mrs Claus, of North Pole Inc
Teamsters General President, James P. Hoffa, takes a stand for driver health and road safety.
As driver fatigue and vehicle accidents involving fleets continue to make headlines, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa continues to advocate for driver safety. The Teamsters are the largest and most diverse driver union in North America. In Hoffa’s letter to the U.S. House of Representatives, he strongly urges them to denounce two possible floor amendments to the Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) FY ’15 Appropriations bill. The amendments, if passed, would revise or delay the current 34-hour HOS provision and permit motor carriers to have larger and heavier trucks on the road.
The Results
If passed without the potential amendments, the THUD FY ‘15 bill would strengthen highway safety standards by maintaining the 34-hour restart HOS provision in addition to ensuring double trailers don’t exceed safe weight and size limits. If amendments are presented by House Representatives and passed, driver safety will be compromised, according to Hoffa.
The Concern
As highway safety continues to be a hot topic, the FMCSA has implemented regulations to help ensure safe roads for all drivers. The NHTSA reported almost 700 people were injured or killed in an accident involving a large truck in 2012. The most recent fatal accident within the trucking industry is the ninth offense for Walmart in the past 24 months. The Walmart truck driver who rear-ended a van claiming the life of James McNair was believed to be operating the vehicle for a period longer than 24 hours. Hoffa shared, “Not all motor carries run their drivers to the limit of their hours-of-service, but it does happen. Drivers feel pressure from their employers to drive more than 60-70 hours a week with insufficient rest. Without a strong voice in the workplace like the Teamsters Union, these drivers are left with no recourse and the resulting fatigue leads to accidents.”
Does the current HOS ruling operate in favor of driver health or driver productivity? Share your thoughts.
Teamsters General President, James P. Hoffa, takes a stand for driver health and road safety.
As driver fatigue and vehicle accidents involving fleets continue to make headlines, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa continues to advocate for driver safety. The Teamsters are the largest and most diverse driver union in North America. In Hoffa’s letter to the U.S. House of Representatives, he strongly urges them to denounce two possible floor amendments to the Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) FY ’15 Appropriations bill. The amendments, if passed, would revise or delay the current 34-hour HOS provision and permit motor carriers to have larger and heavier trucks on the road.
The Results
If passed without the potential amendments, the THUD FY ‘15 bill would strengthen highway safety standards by maintaining the 34-hour restart HOS provision in addition to ensuring double trailers don’t exceed safe weight and size limits. If amendments are presented by House Representatives and passed, driver safety will be compromised, according to Hoffa.
The Concern
As highway safety continues to be a hot topic, the FMCSA has implemented regulations to help ensure safe roads for all drivers. The NHTSA reported almost 700 people were injured or killed in an accident involving a large truck in 2012. The most recent fatal accident within the trucking industry is the ninth offense for Walmart in the past 24 months. The Walmart truck driver who rear-ended a van claiming the life of James McNair was believed to be operating the vehicle for a period longer than 24 hours. Hoffa shared, “Not all motor carries run their drivers to the limit of their hours-of-service, but it does happen. Drivers feel pressure from their employers to drive more than 60-70 hours a week with insufficient rest. Without a strong voice in the workplace like the Teamsters Union, these drivers are left with no recourse and the resulting fatigue leads to accidents.”
Does the current HOS ruling operate in favor of driver health or driver productivity? Share your thoughts.
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